Electrical installation assemblage and conductor clamp



y 1929. H. F. VAUGHN ET AL ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION ASSEMBLAGE ANDCONDUCTOR CLAMP 7 Original Filed Nov/18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l frmdyzfl/wujZn 20397207252. Wan/27? awowzqo l B F y 7, 1929- H. F. VAUGHN ETAL 1,711,912

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION ASSEMBLAGE AND CONDUCTOR CLAMP Original FiledNov. 18 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May -7, 1929. l

' UNITED STATES HERMAN F. VAUGHN AND RAYMOND R. TERPENING, OFSCHENECTADY, YORK.

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION ASSEMBLAGE AND CONDUCTOR CLAMP.

Application filed November 18, 1926, Serial No. 149,198. Renewed March22, 1929.

The invention relates .to the anchorage of armored conductors to switchboxes, outlet installation. Such receptacles are commonly provided withknockouts to form conductorreceiving openings at the most advantageouslocations, and it is customary to provide clamps for holding theconductors against edge walls of their receiving openings, but if theconductors be provided with non-metallic armor, these edge walls have atendency to out such armor. It is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide an im roved construction whereby each conductor 1sheld between complementary relatively stationary and movable clampsections, the stationary section being provided with receptacle-abuttingmeans which holds it in such relation with the receptacle as to preventthe edge of the conductor-receiving opening from engaging the armor in away liable to injure the same.

A still further object is to make provision whereby a singlescrew-threaded fastener will hold the two clam sections inconductorclamping relation an will also secure them in fixed relationwith the receptacle.

Yet another aim is to provide a construction which is exceptionallysimple and inexpensive and ma therefore be easily manufactured and so (1at snfallcost, yet will behighly practical and efficient, and willpermit quick and easy clam ing of one or more conductors to a receptace.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an elevation looking into'a receptacle equipped with theimproved clamping means and showing two metallic-armored conductors heldby said means.

Figs. 2 and-3 are respectively a transverse and a longitudinal sectionalview as indicatedby the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 1,2' and3, theconductors being in section. 7

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating, the mannerin which conductors .ofdifferent diameters and having proved clampingmeans.

non-metallic armors may be held by the im- Fig..7 is a perspective viewshowing the two clamp sections in juxtaposition.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but looking in different directionsat the clamp sections.

The receptacle herein disclosed, is of conventional form and is denotedin a general way by the reference character B, said receptacle havingthe usual back wall l/V, end walls E and side walls S, the numerousWalls being provided with knockouts K, any of which may be removed toform openings 0 to receive the requisite number of conductors. In

Figs. 1 to 4, the conductors C are provided with twisted metal armors,in Fig. 5, the conductors C are provided with non-metallic armors knownas loom, and in Fig. 6, smaller conductors C" are shown, havingnon-metallic armors. Our invention is well adapted to the securing ofany of these common types of conductors to the receptacle R, and theconstruction is such that the clamping means will in no manner injurethe armor. More'- over, this construction will eflectively clamp theconductors regardless of their size and will effectively close theportions of the openings O, unoccupied by the conductors.

A preferred form of construction is herein disclosed, and will be ratherspecifically described, with the understanding however that within thescope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made. Theconductor clamping meansis preferably of dual form, but is notnecessarily restricted to such form. r I

10 and 11 designate relatively movable clamp sections disposed withinthe receptacle R, the section 10 being disposed in the angle between thewall W and one of the right angularly disposed walls provided with theopenings 0. This section 10 is formed with curved seats 12 to engage theconductors and to substantially follow the edge portions of the openings0, toward the wall W, and said section lO is provided withreceptacle-engaging means facing in the opposite direction from theseats 12, to; abut the wall W to hold said section in the requisiterelation with said edges of the openings.

In the preferred form of construction, the

clamp section 10 is elongated and is formed near its ends withdepressions which extend transversely of the section from edge to edgethereof, providing the seats 12. At one edge of the section 10, thelatter is provided with a longitudinal flange 1 3 preferably having astraight free edge 14 to contact with the wall W. At the otherlongitudinal edge of the section 10, the latter is provided with legs 15which project in the same direction as the flange 13, that is, in theopposite direction from that in which the seats 12 face. The legs 15 arealso intended to abut the wall W as seen clearly in the drawings, and byhaving the section 10 rest solidly upon these legs and the flange 13, itis held in the desired relation with the receptacle R, when the clamp isengaged with the conductors.

The movable clamp section 11 is very similar to the clamp memberdisclosed in our U. S. Patent 1,611,499 dated December 21,

1926. This clamp section embodies two curved conductor-engaging portions16 opposed to the seats 12, and said section also embodies a portion 17to close the portions of 20 the openings 0, unoccupied by theconductors.

, The two sections 10 and 11 are formed with "alined openings 18, whichopenings are in alinement with an opening 19 in'the wall W, so that asingle screw 20 may be passed through said openings 18 and 19 fordrawing the two clamp sections 10 and 11 into conductor-clampin positionand for holding the receptacle-a utting means 1315 tightly seatedagainst the wall W, as well as retaining the clamp portions 13 and 17against the wall through ,which the openings-( are formed, it being ofcourse understood that the openings 18 are smooth-walled, whereas thewall of the opening 19 is threaded forengagement with the screw 20.

When the device is installed, in the manner described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, the conductors cannot engage the edgeportions O of the openings 0, toward the wall W, in any manner tendingto injure the conductor armor, and regardless of the nature of sucharmor, the conductors will be effectively clamped in a non-injuriousmanner.

To engage twisted metallic armors of the conductors, the clamp portions16 are preferably formed with inwardly stamped tongues 16', and in orderto protect the insulation of the conductors against injury by the usualragged ends of the metallic armors,

,tlie clamp sections 10 and 11 preferably have inturned edges or beads21 to abut the armor "and engage the insulation as shown. These Figs. 5and 6, and even though the tongues 16' may come in contact with thesearmors, the main gripping function is performed by the beads and thecurved portions 1216, and hence, it is not necessary that thedetents.

16' shall hold the conductors against longi tudinal'movement, so thatsaid detents have no tendency to cut the armors.

It will be seen from the foregoing that we have devised an exceptionallysimple, inexpensive and practical means for clamping different kinds andsizes of conductors to the receptacle without danger of injury; theportions of the openings 0 unoccupied by the conductors will beeffectively closed by the portion 17, and that the abutting relation of1 this portion and the flange 13 with thewall in which the openings areformed, effectively resists any outward pull uponthe conductors.

1. A conductor clamp section comprising an elongated member having saced depres-' sions extending transversely rom edge to edge in one ofits sides, providing conductorengaging seats facing in-one direction,one of said edges having a longitudinal flange projecting in theopposite direction and provided with a free edge to abut a wall of areceptacle when the clamp section is in use in the latter, the other ofsaid edges having legs projecting from the central portions of saiddepressions and in the same direction as said flange to abut theabove-named receptacle wall and the last named edge havingconductor-engaging stops on opposite sides of said '1 legs.

2'. In a conductor clamp section, a sheet metal stamping having a bodyportion formed with a transverse depression providing a con ductor seatfacing in one direction, one end of said seat having a central leg bentin the opposite direction to abut a wee tacle in which the clamp sectionis used, said end of said seat being rolled inwardly at oppositeedges'of said leg to provide rounded conductor-engaging ribs and meanson said body portion to co-operate with said leg in supportingthesection in a receptacle.

3. In a conductor clamp section, a sheet metal stamping having a bodyportion formed with a transverse depression providing a conductor seatfacing in one direction, one end of said seat having a central leg bentin the opposite direction to abut a receptacle in tor-engaging ribs, theedge of said body portion opposite said leg having a longitudinal flangebent in the same direction assaid leg to also abut the receptacle. 1

alfixed our signatures.

, HERMAN F: VAUGHN.

RAYMOND TERPENING. 1

In testimony whereof we have hereunto"

